1
as in impoverished
lacking money or material possessions
every year, we make up a basket of food at Thanksgiving for a poor family in the neighborhood
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in desolate
producing inferior or only a small amount of vegetation
land that is too poor for farming
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in scarce
less plentiful than what is normal, necessary, or desirable
a poor crop because of the drought this year
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
a pretty poor musician, even for a garage band
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in terrible
of low quality
the poor workmanship of the goods from that store
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in pitiful
deserving of one's pity
aw, the poor kitten hurt its paw
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of poor
Heavy downpours, lightning, and localized flooding in poor drainage areas will be the primary concerns.
—
Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 9 June 2026
The researchers say these foods - things like salty chips, sugary sodas and prepackaged meals - which now dominate the American diet, have become major drivers of poor health, and the time to act is now.
—Maria Godoy, NPR, 9 June 2026
People who exercised reported substantially fewer poor mental health days than those who did not.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 June 2026
Is this a rich family, a poor family?
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for poor
Lauren Bostwick, CBS News, 9 June 2026
The researchers say these foods - things like salty chips, sugary sodas and prepackaged meals - which now dominate the American diet, have become major drivers of poor health, and the time to act is now.
—Maria Godoy, NPR, 9 June 2026
People who exercised reported substantially fewer poor mental health days than those who did not.
—Samantha Agate, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 June 2026
Is this a rich family, a poor family?
—Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 8 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for poor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for poor
Adjective
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Rural Cuba was profoundly impoverished and underdeveloped before and during the Batista era, and land ownership was scant among the working poor.—
Max Saltman,
CNN Money,
4 June 2026
-
So much for bringing the experience of art to culturally impoverished Butte.—
Jonathan Franzen,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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Since the Bankhead and Livermore Cinema opened, a number of popular restaurants – including Zachary’s Pizza, Sauced BBQ and Spirits and Locanda Wine Bar have transformed a once-desolate block into a buzzing culinary destination.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
4 June 2026
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Just under 300,000 years from the moment Homo sapiens appeared in Africa, the species had encircled Earth, mastering desolate deserts and frozen wastelands and all the temperate climes in between.—
Cody Cottier,
Scientific American,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Castine, Maine Pristine sandy beaches like Wadsworth Cove might be scarce in this small waterfront village, but Castine makes up for it with a rich seafaring history and plentiful water activities.—
Kira Turnbull,
Travel + Leisure,
6 June 2026
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Because the statewide law was passed during the COVID-19 pandemic and housing construction has been slow and more expensive ever since, data is scarce about whether the reforms are making headway on their lofty housing, transit and pollution goals.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Advertisement If something comes back at unacceptable levels, filtering is the next step—and the right filter depends on what's in your water.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
3 June 2026
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Concern, because the violence and chaos in Hyde Park and elsewhere over the Memorial Day weekend are dangerous and unacceptable.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
2 June 2026
Adjective
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Historically, South America has proven irresistible to certain inhabitants of the northern hemisphere eager to escape the consequences of their terrible actions.—
David Futrelle,
Washington Post,
4 June 2026
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In retrospect, the Supreme Court decision that opened the widespread legalization of sports betting was a terrible, terrible mistake.—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Trump has made a pitiful shambles of what should have been a glorious moment.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
31 May 2026
-
With his country flailing in their pitiful attempts to qualify for the 2006 World Cup, at the age of 33, Zidane underwent his change of heart.—
Amy Lawrence,
New York Times,
31 May 2026
Adjective
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And as for the financial motive that Kouri was broke?—
Natalie Morales,
CBS News,
24 May 2026
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In the 1940s, the company leading the mining operation went broke and filed for bankruptcy, and many residents moved on.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
23 May 2026
Adjective
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In a barren free-agent class, though, that’s much easier said than done.—
Shayna Goldman,
New York Times,
2 June 2026
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Called me barren and used up and all that.—
Jamil Jan Kochai,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Poor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/poor. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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